Japan Warning On Builders

Reuters

Published: June 20, 1988

TOKYO, June 19—
Japan's construction minister, Ihei Ochi, said Friday that Japan might scrap the construction agreement reached in May with the United States if the United States blocks foreign participation in Federal construction projects.

The United States and Japan signed a pact on May 25 that could open to foreign bids $17 billion worth of Japanese projects.

But the United States Senate on Wednesday approved new legislation that would deny foreign companies the right to work on Federal construction projects if their home countries barred United States building and architectural concerns.

Japan's moves to open its construction market would not be enough under the legislation's wording to exempt it from the ban.